Cleaning apparatus



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Feb. 5, 1963 2 Sheet -s 1 Filed Sept. 25. 1960 & M J u E N. i

E ToR. ENN BELT A TTOEA/Ey Feb. 5, 1963 K. BELT CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1960 INVEN TOR. GLENN A. BELT 5a 54 F V I6. 4.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent @filice 3,076,468 Patented Feb. 5,

3,076,468 CLEANING APPARATUS Glenn K. Belt, Upland, Califi, assignor to Handy-Clean Company, Inc., a corporation of Nevada Filed Sept. 23, 1960, Ser..No. 58,089 2 Claims. (Cl. 134-102) to other parts in a desired, predetermined mannerin.

order to insure proper machine operation; Unfortunately, the accumulation of dust, dirty oil and thelike at various points of interconnection of the parts in machinesfof the general type indicated above interferes with the satisfactory operation of such machines.

As a consequence of this at the present time it is customary to periodically overhaul and service machines containing a plurality of interconnected moving mechanical parts. Although frequently a certain amount of adjustment and inspection is involved in such overhaul operations, and although occasionally parts are replaced during the overhauling of a machine of the type indicated, normally such overhauling operations consist essentially of nothing more or less than a thorough cleaning and oiling of parts and connections. Because of the diflicnlty in satisfactorily cleaning small interconnected mechanical parts using presently available techniques and equipment, it is customary to physically transport type writer's, adding machines and various related or similar pieces. of equipment to a repair shop in order to clean and overhaul them. This is obviously time consuming and expensive. For reasons of this type the present day normal procedures for cleaning various piecesof equipment of the type broadly indicated above are considered to behunnecessarily expensive and to result in unnecessary inconvenience.

"Anobject of the present invention is to provide new and improved cleaning apparatus capable ofbeing used in inexpensively and rapidly cleaning various difierenttypes of equipment employing small interconnected and interrnoving mechanical parts. A further object of this invention is to provide machines which can be used for this purpose indoors in an ofi'ice or the like where the machine which is cleaned is normally utilized. It is to be understood, however, that cleaning apparatus as described in this specification can, if desired, be used in a norrnal repair sho'p, although this is not preferred since it requires unnecessary time and expense to transport items such as typewriters, H adding machines and the like to a separate repair shop.

In this specification the term cleaning apparatus is employed to represent machines which are primarily intended foruse in cleaningtypewriters, adding machines andvari ous similar and related types of conventional office equipment. It is to be understood, however, that cleaning apparatus falling under the scope of thisspecifica tion can beelfectively utilized in cleaning, overhauling and servicing various: other types of equipment such as machines using mechanical parts for reproducing by light or heat-sensitive means various documents, machines for "typing out or printing material in response to a punched tape, machines capable of producing 'copy with varioiis differenttype faces, such as are frequently 'used for preparing mimeograph or lithographic stencils or plates, and various other types of equipment. Equipment of the present invention can be satisfactorily employed in performing cleaning operations forming a major. part of a complete overhaul operation for various types of purely industrial, devices such as devices used in various machine shop operations.

A major advantage of the present invention is considered to be the fact that cleaning apparatus as herein. described may be satisfactorily employed when surrounded by virtually anything, including persons or equipment. Another advantage of this invention is the fact that a cleaning apparatus of the present invention may be. constructed comparatively inexpensively. A further ad-. vantage of the invention is considered to be the fact that such a cleaning apparatus may be easily and convenientlyused by even comparatively untrained or unskilled personnel. A still further advantage of this invention is considered to be the fact that cleaning apparatus falling within the scope of this specification may be easily and conveniently moved from one location to another as may be desired. i

Other advantages and objects of this invention will be fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification including the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a cleaning apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view takena't line 4 -4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding;

to FIG. 2 of a modified cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

The accompanying drawings are primarily intendedto. clearly illustrate and explain several'presently preferred.

These, draw- This embodiments or forms of this invention. ings are not to be taken aslimiting this invention.

is because various individuals skilled in the field, of con-. structing equipment of the type to which this invention pertains will be able to design other differently appearing.

cleaning apparatus utilizing the essential features 'embodied in the apparatus shown through the use or exercise of routine skill or ability on the basis of the dis closure embodied in this specification.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be,

stated in essentially summary form that it concerns cleaning apparatus, comprising a housing having an open front, a bottom, back and side 'walls; a turntable rotably mounted on the bottom of the housing; fan means,

mounted on the back of the housing remote from the open front, and means for spraying either air, or, air

and another material or materials, upon a piece of machinery located upon such turntable. The invention,

in its more specific aspects, however, concerns cleaning apparatus including other items such as a separator or. filter for cleaning air moved by the fan means employed, lights for illuminating a piece of'machinery held upon.

the present invention which includes a base 12 carrying,

ahousing' 14. This housing 14 has a bottom 16 which serves as a top of the base 12.. It also has side walls" 18, a topwall 2.0, a rear wall 22, and an open front 24.

Preferably: the walls 18, 20 and 22 are formed as shown out of a transparent material suchas glass, a polyacrylic resin or the like. These walls should all be of such a character as to be physically capable of withstanding the effects of oil and solvent, and should be of a material capable of being easily cleaned.

The bottom 16 is preferably sloped as shown so that any liquid dropping upon this bottom 16 will be conveyed by the eifects of gravity to a drain opening 26 located at the lower points along this bottom 16. The bottom 16 also preferably carries an attached, centrally located stand 28 which is provided with a vertically aligned bearing 30. This bearing 30 carries a shaft 32 which extends from the bottom of a disc-like turntable 34, and serves to rotatably support this turntable 34 so that it is capable of being rotated in a horizontal plane. Containers 35 adapted to contain brushes, a concentrated solvent solution or the like (not shown) may be supported by the bottom 16.

The base 12 preferably carries small bottom wheels 36 of the castor type which may be used in moving the apparatus in the obvious manner. This base 12 is also provided with a bottom compartment 38. This compartment 38 is covered by a screen 40 mounted upon this base 12, and is used to hold a conventional air compressor 42 which is mounted upon and connected to a compressor tank 44 in the conventional manner. A motor 46 mounted upon this tank 44 is used to drive the compressor 42 through a conventional V-belt and pulley drive 48. The tank 44 may be secured to the base 12 through the use of a conventional stand 50.

An outlet pipe 52 leads from the tank 44 to a valve 54, see FIG. 4, which is connected to a conventional type of easily connect and disconnect on-olf valve containing hose fitting 56. This fitting 56 is mounted upon a small mounting plate 58 extending acros the front of the base 12 adjacent the front opening 24 immediately below the bottom 16. This plate 58 also supports two other identical hose fittings 56 which in turn are attached to valves 60. One of these valves 68 is connected by means of a pipe 62 to a solvent storage tank 64 and the other of these valves 60 is connected by means of a pipe 62 to an oil storage tank 66. Screwon lids 68 are preferably provided on the tanks 64 and 66 for use in filling them.

In the apparatus 10 the drain opening 26 is connected by means of a hose 70 to a top opening 72 in a drain or spent fluid tank 74. From a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that these tanks 64, 66 and 74 are located immediately within the base 12 in back of a door 76 which is adapted to be opened in order to provide access to them. Preferably the interior surface of the door 76 carries mounts 7 8 which are used in supporting a spray-gun 80 forming a part of the apparatus 10 and various hoses 82, 84 and 86 leading to it.

When the apparatus 10 is to be used the ends of hoses 82, 84 and 86 are connected to the hose fittings 56 so that the gun 80 is actuated by air conveyed from the compressor 42 and so that by appropriate manipulation of a control member 88 located upon this gun, either solvent or oil or both may be dispensed from it. A trigger 90 on this gun 80 is preferably utilized so as to regulate the operation of it as may be desired during the use of the apparatus 10. The spray gun 80 is preferably of a conventional type and it is preferably constructed so as to emit during this operation a spray-like mist of either solvent or oil or both in conjunction with a stream of air.

When the apparatus 10 is to be used a typewriter or other related piece of equipment is placed upon the turntable 34 with the housing of such a machine removed. At this time, with the spray gun connected as previously described, a stream of air, air and solvent, air and oil, or air, oil and solvent may be directed as it emanates from the gun 80 toward various mechanical parts of such a machine. During this operation such parts may be moved to desired positions by manual rotation of the turn table 34. Similarly such a machine which is being cleaned and reconditioned may be manually actuated so as to test its operation and so as to further expose various parts for cleaning operations.

During the use of the apparatus 10 it is considered necessary to continuously exhaust from it air so as to prevent an air stream from backing out of the machine through the front opening 24. For this purpose preferably the rear wall 22 is provided with a conduit 92 leading from the interior of the housing 14 to its exterior, and preferably a small electric fan 94 is mounted within this conduit so as to draw air continuously from the interior of the housing. Various screens, filters and the like (not shown) may be located Within this conduit 92. Preferably a bafile 96 is located within the housing 14 on the rear wall 22 so as to cover the entrance into this conduit. This baffle 96 serves to control and direct the flow of air into the conduit 92 in such a manner that any lint, dirt or the like which might otherwise pass through this conduit 92 drops down and falls upon the bottom 16 where it can conveniently be removed from the complete apparatus 10.

Preferably a reel 98 of the automatic re-wind type is mounted upon the base 12 and is used in order to supply electrical power to the motor 46 and the fan 94 and to electric lights 100 mounted along the junctions of the side walls 18 and the top wall 20 of the housing 14 through the use of electrical cords or conduits 182 controlled by the use of switches 104. These switches are mounted upon the plate 58.

In FIG. 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified cleaning apparatus of the present invention which is similar to the apparatus 10. For convenience of designation and description various parts of the two apparatuses 10 and 110 which are the same or essentially the same are designated herein and in the drawings by the primes of the numerals previously used in this specification.

The apparatus 110' differs from the apparatus 10 as to the precise shape of the conduit 92 employed. In the apparatus 110 a conduit 92' is used which has an elbowlike shape and which is directed downwardly. The extremity of this conduit 92' remote from the housing 14 is provided with an easily detachable screen 112' for use in filtering.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realize that a cleaning apparatus as herein described possesses a number of distinct and inherent advantages. They will realize that equipment as herein described may be satisfactorily used with typewriters and the like contaiuing electrical components such as motors, solenoids, and the like since an apparatus in accordance with this invention can be employed to clean and service equipment containing mechanical parts under such conditions that electrical components as indicated will not become damaged. The precise use of a cleaning apparatus of this invention will, of course, vary depending upon a number of different factors such as what is being cleaned and the condition of the machine being cleaned. It will, of course, be realized that an apparatus of this invention can be used to oil various parts. For these reasons it is not considered necessary to further describe the use of a cleaning apparatus as herein indicated.

Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as being limited solely by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. Cleaning apparatus for removing in situ accumulations of dust, dirty and dried oil and debris from typewriters and other machines, said cleaning apparatus comprising a portable base having a compartment therein, a partially enclosed housing superposed on said base; said housing comprising a top, a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a sloping bottom having a drain outlet at its lowest point, said housing being open at the front thereof, a turntable rotatably mounted on said bottom and extending above the same; said turntable being adapted to removably retain a typewriter or other machine to be cleaned, a plate on and extending across said housing below the open front thereof, a plurality of hose fittings secured in said plate, a waste container in said compartment in communication with said drain outlet, a first container for holding a solvent cleaner seated in said compartment and communicating with a first fitting of said plurality of hose fittings, a second container for holding a liquid oil cleaner seated in said compartment and in communication with a second hose fitting of said plurality of hose fittings, a power-driven compressor supported in said base, a pipe establishing communication between said compressor and a third hose fitting of said plurality of hose fittings, an openable door on said base, a spray gun removably supported on the inside of said door, a plurality of flexible hoses removably mounted on said door, said hoses being adapted to establish communication separately between said third, said second and said first hose fittings on said plate and said spray gun, and control means on said spray gun for selectively discharging therefrom any one of the substances of air, oil and solvent or mixtures thereof into the machine, actuation of said spray gun upon operation of said compressor effecting the emanation in any desired direction of a stream of air or a stream of solvent laden air, or a stream of oil laden air, or a stream of air laden with a mixture of solvent and oil whereby a typewriter or other machine disposed on said turntable may be rapidly and eifectively cleaned.

2. Cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1, and means on the rear wall of said housing for removing air from within said housing to the exterior and at the rear thereof for dissipation remote from said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,584 Kukulka Nov. 8, 1921 2,309,251 Little Jan. 26, 1943 2,431,684 Brophy Dec. 2, 1947 2,571,575 Holmes Oct. 16, 1951 2,597,359 McDonald et a1. May 20, 1952 2,897,743 Marantz Aug. 4, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,397 Great Britain July 23, 1908 Canada June 20, 1950 

1. CLEANING APPARATUS FOR REMOVING IN SITU ACCUMULATIONS OF DUST, DIRTY AND DRIED OIL AND DEBRIS FROM TYPEWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES, SAID CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PORTABLE BASE HAVING A COMPARTMENT THEREIN, A PARTIALLY ENCLOSED HOUSING SUPERPOSED ON SAID BASE; SAID HOUSING COMPRISING A TOP, A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, A REAR WALL AND A SLOPING BOTTOM HAVING A DRAIN OUTLET AT ITS LOWEST POINT, SAID HOUSING BEING OPEN AT THE FRONT THEREOF, A TURNTABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOTTOM AND EXTENDING ABOVE THE SAME; SAID TURNTABLE BEING ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY RETAIN A TYPEWRITER OR OTHER MACHINE TO BE CLEANED, A PLATE ON AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID HOUSING BELOW THE OPEN FRONT THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF HOSE FITTINGS SECURED IN SAID PLATE, A WASTE CONTAINER IN SAID COMPARTMENT IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DRAIN OUTLET, A FIRST CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A SOLVENT CLEANER SEATED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND COMMUNICATING WITH A FIRST FITTING OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOSE FITTINGS, A SECOND CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A LIQUID OIL CLEANER SEATED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH A SECOND HOSE FITTING OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOSE FITTINGS, A 